Streaming music to atv when tv is off

[pedz]

My wife and I play music from our computers (much easier to navigate than on the tv). I use the apple tv to play the music through our speakers. Problem is when the tv is off so is the receiver. I don't want to have to get the remote and turn it on just to play music. So I programmed my harmony remote to always leave the receiver on, and when turning of any activity it sets the receiver input to the atv. This seems to work pretty well, now we can start up music whenver we want.

Anyone have a different approach they find works?

My primary question is around the receiver, mine is pretty old and probably needs replacing. Can anyone recommend a receiver that supports either default volume per input or the ability to enter the volume by number. I want this so I can set the volume to the same number everytime we end an activity, so the music volume is consistent. Price range is 500-700. Wondering if it is worth waiting to see if more receivers integrate airplay, that would be nice, right now the few announced are really expensive.

Thanks,
Peter

 

[EvilC5]

not sure I fully understand the question, but heres what I do....

I have my apple tv's and airport express's hooked to stereo systems through my house. I just turn on whichever receiver for the room im in with my L5 remote on my iphone then use the apple remote app to control the music and volume via airtunes.

not sure about a receiver that will go to a preprogrammed volume level if thats the question you are asking.

 

[pedz]

Yes, the question is about a receiver that supports preprogrammed volume.

We typicall play music from itunes while sitting at the computer. I don't want to have to get up, find the remote, turn the system on, and go back to the computer to start my music. I know it is lazy, but all of these gadgets are about convenience, and just trying to make it as convenient as possible.

Peter

 

[Mr Kram]

use your iphone, ipod touch, or ipad to control everything using the remote app.

 

[pedz]

I do sometimes use the remote app and other times (most of the time), I am already sitting at my computer so use itunes. Just trying to make it easy and consistent (primarily for my wife). So when she plays something in itunes the volume won't vary depending on where someone last had the volume set to.

 

[EvilC5]

a company (i cant remember off the top of my head now) makes a wifi to RF/IR repeater system to control your activities via iphone/touch from anywhere in the home...

 

[pedz]

That is interesting, I will take a look. Ultimately though I am not trying to control my receiver. I just want to leave it on at a preset volume so I can control the music and volume from itunes or the remote app. I have this setup except for the preset volume. It works fine even without that, but if there is a receiver that would allow it (presetting the volume) I wouldn't mind getting it.

Thanks,
Peter

 

[jamesarm97]

I have a Logitech receiver / amplifier which has coax (SPDIF), optical and stereo inputs. I have the TV audio output going to the SPDIF input and the optical output of the Apple TV going into the optical input. Anything that you play on the tv (hdmi inputs / dvd, etc) get switched to the SPDIF output automatically when you watch them and play through the surround speakers. If the TV is off, i can switch the receiver to the optical input and it will play that way without the tv needing to be on.

Another setup I have uses an audio / video switch box. I don't use the video portion anymore because I went away from component to hdmi. I still use the audio portion which accepts SPDIF and optical and automatically switches to the input that is currently receiving audio. The inputs are prioritized so the Apple TV will have priority over the tv output.

It all works pretty good.